[AlanHo]

We were booked to fly to Croatia tomorrow morning (3rd October) on Monarch Airlines for a 10 day holiday. We had pre-paid for the flights and booked accommodation separately.

Over the week-end the news was full of stories that Monarch were in financial trouble and if they failed to find a backer by midnight Sunday they would lose their license.  So we were rather concerned.
They were supposed to make an announcement by midnight on Sunday about their future but it did not materialise so I went to bed assuming they had been granted an extension to their license.

I woke up at 3.00 am drenched in perspiration, feeling giddy, nauseous and with chest/back/throat dull pains. This followed the previous 5 days when I have been very tired and suffering from a muzzy head and feeling shaky in waves.  I was diagnosed with angina 15 years ago but have never had such problems.

I checked my Blood pressure several times and got readings which varied between 192/95 and 164/89, also my blood sugar which was only 2.6. After some thought - because I didn't want to miss the holiday - but also not to be so stupid as to ignore the symptoms - I woke Libby, called a taxi and took myself off to the nearest A&E to get checked out. We arrived there at 5:00 am.

To cut a long story short we were at the hospital all day whilst I was subjected to three ECG's, three separate blood tests, an X-Ray and being examined by 2 doctors who were sure it was not a heart attack but found that I have a low pulse rate. Hence I am to be kitted up with a portable heart monitor for 48 hours before they decide what to do - if anything. Whilst I was in between blood tests and ECG's I was monitoring the situation with Monarch and discovered they have stopped all flights and gone into administration. Hence they made my mind up for me - I was definitely stopping at home.  We didn't leave the hospital until 16.30 so we had spent 11.5 hours there.  I can't complain - the thoroughness of the nurses and doctors was 100%.

I now have the chore of trying to get our money back for the flights, car hire and holiday apartment. If push comes to shove - I will claim it back via our bank having paid for everything with a debit card.

A truly crappy day innit.

[MIY]

Holly sh*#!
I just hope you're fine and also get your money back!

[chris_i30gd]

Really crappy day....
Hope everything go better soon!

[Surferdude]

A real good  news,  bad  news sort of day.
All the best, Alan.

[CraigB]

Geez! Hope it all comes good Alan 

[asathorny]

Glad your not going Alan... take good care.  Good luck.

[Dazzler]

Jeepers seems to be a good word for the occasion! 

You don't do things by halves! 

In the scheme of things the money doesn't really matter (did I really say that!)

I hope your health settles down and you are back to your  relatively fit self soon! 

[Shambles]

Monarch should have commissioned larger planes to get a handle into the long haul market. Instead, they struggled in the local/domestic/cut-throat business. Sack the leader.

Better off at home Alan - look after yourself. Besides, you've already seen Croatia.

[eye30]

Re debit card payment.
From what i've been reading today re monarch cancellations, it may not be as easy as if you had paid on credit card for items which are not linked to monarch contract.

Hope all banks play ball and make claiming stress free.

Ps
Hope you are feeling better Alan.....

Pps
Presume 3pm was actually 3am from reading time you went to hossie.

[AlanHo]

Re debit card payment.
From what i've been reading today re monarch cancellations, it may not be as easy as if you had paid on credit card for items which are not linked to monarch contract.

Hope you are feeling better Alan.....
Presume 3pm was actually 3am from reading time you went to hossie.

Thanks for the correction Lester - OP amended accordingly

The bank will require me to apply to KPMG (the Monarch administrators) and demand a refund.

They will reject my request

I submit the rejection to the bank to prove I took action to recover the cost.

The Bank then wriggle a bit but then pay up

Estimated time - some months not weeks.

[John B]

Hope all turns out well Alan.  All the best.

[neptune]

Out of curiosity, Alan , what was your low pulse reading?

[AlanHo]

Out of curiosity, Alan , what was your low pulse reading?

Cannot exactly recall - it was somewhere in the 40's.

[AlanHo]

Thanks for your good wishes guys - it is appreciated.